Improvement in fastenings for mail-bags



H. S. MERTZ -82; H. T. WORMAN.

Fastenings for Mail-Bags.

No. 218,045. Patented July 29,1879.

WITNESSES MAM ATTORNEYS.

N.FETERS, HOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WISHINGTON, D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY S. MERTZ AND HENRY T. W'ORMAN, OFALLENTOWN, PA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FASTENINGS FOR MAIL-BAGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 218,045, dated July 29,1879; application filed October 26, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY STEWARD MERTZ and HENRY TILGHMAN WORMAN, ofAllentown, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Fastenings for Mail- Bags, &c.,of which the following is a specifr cation.

Figure l is a top view of a mail-bag to which our improved fastening hasbeen applied. Fig. 2 is a detail under-side view of the cap. Fig. 3 is across-section of the cap, taken through the line x m, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 isa detail perspective view of the direction plate or label. Fig. 5 is aside view of the upper part of a mail-bag to which our improvedfastening has been applied, showing it locked. Fig. 6 is a side view ofthe upper part of a mail-bag to which our improved fastening has beenapplied, showing it provided with a hand or carrying strap. Fig. 7 is anunder-side view of the stud and guard'plate.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved fastening,designed especially for inail-bags, but which may be applied with equalfacility to hat-boxes, hand-bags, and other bags, and which shall besimple in construction and convenient in use, being easily fastened andunfastened, and not being liable to become accidentally unfastened, orto allow the contents of the bag to fall out.

The invention consists in the combination of the stud-plate, the stud,the eye-plates, and the cap with each other and the mouth of the bag; inthe combination of the guard-plate with the stud-plate, the stud, theeye-plates, the cap, and the bag; in the combination of the hand-strapand the snap-hook with the stud, the eye-plates, the cap, and the bag;and in the combination of the direction plate or label with the slottedcap-plate, the stud, the eyeplates, and the bag, as hereinafter fullydescribed.

A represents a mail-bag, to the inner surface of which, at one side ofits mouth, is secured by rivets a short and narrow metal plate, B. Theouter end of the plate B projects a little beyond the edge of the mouthof the bag A, and to it is attached or upon it is formed a stud, C.

To the edge of the mouth of the bag A, at a little distance from eachother, are secured a number of small plates, D, the outer ends of whichproject a little beyond the said edge, and have holes or eyes formedthrough them of sufficient size to allow them' to be placed upon thestud G. The eye-plates D are placed upon the stud O in regular order,and are then covered and protected by a semi-spherical cap, E, which hasa hole through its center to receive the stud G. The upper end of thestud O has a hole formed through it to receive the bar of a padlock, F.as shown in Fig. 5.

G is a short hand-strap, the ends of which are overlapped, and areriveted to the shank of a snap-hook, H. When the fastening is notrequired to be locked, the snap-hook H may be hooked into the hole inthe end of the stud O, and when the fastening is required to be locked,the said snap hook H may be hooked around the bar of the padlock F,forming, in either case, a convenient handle for carrying the bag.

I is a plate, which is so formed as to fit into the interior of the capE at one side, and which is provided with a perforated lug uponits inneredge, the hole of which corresponds with the hole through the cap E, sothat the stud C may pass through it at the same time that it passesthrough the hole in the said cap E. The plate I is kept from sidemovement Within the cap E by pins 6 attached to the said cap, andagainst which the side edges of the said plate I rest. Upon the outer orconvex side of the plate or label I is marked the name of thepost-office or other place to which the bag is to be sent,.or the nameor address of its owner, which direction is seen through a slot, 6 inthe side of the cap E.

J is a leather or metal plate, which is slotted to receive the studplateB, and is riveted to the bag A upon the opposite sides of the said plateB. The guard-plate J is designed to cover the inner side of the mouth ofthe bag when fastened to prevent the contents of the said bag fromworking into the folds or gathers at its mouth.

Having thus described our invention, we

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combinationof the stud-plate B, the stud C, the eye'plates l), the cap I), and themouth of the bag A, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The combination of the guard-plate J with the stud-plate B, the studt, the eyeplates 1), the cap E, and the bag A, substantially as hereinshown and described.

3. The combination of the snap-hook ll,

provided with the hand-strap G, with the stud C, the eye-plates I), thecap E, and the bag A, substantially as herein shown and described.

4. The cap-plate E, provided with the direction-plate I, in combinationwith the post (i and the bag A, all arranged substantially as shown anddescribed.

HENRY STEWARD MERTZ.

HENRY TILGHMAN WORMAN. Witnesses:

\VALTER L. JONES,

II. R. SCHLENCH.

